Europa League Picks: Lazio and Athletic Bilbao to bag results

We give our tips on Round of 16 ties

The Europa League kicks back into gear on Thursday night, with 16 sides looking to grab a first-leg advantage in the battle for a quarter-final spot.

We’ll be bringing you a full preview of AC Milan v Arsenal shortly, but here are our tips on all the rest of the UEL action, kicking off with Lazio’s Ukrainian test…

Lazio v Dynamo Kiev

Simone Inzaghi’s men have had few issues in this competition, and hammered Steaua Bucharest 5-1 at Stadio Olimpico in the last round.

When I Biancocelesti are good, they’re really good. They’ve won 12 home games this term, 10 of those by a margin of two or more goals. The Lazio -1 handicap is 11/10, while it’s 12/5 for Lazio to Win Both Halves for the 11th time this season.

Visitors Dinamo are out of sorts. Winless in three away games, they lost the last one 3-1 to top-flight also-rans Veres. However, they tend to be good for a goal. It’s 4/6 for Over 2.5 Goals, and a slightly longer 10/11 for Both Teams to Score.

RB Leipzig v Zenit St Petersburg

The home side were the Bundesliga’s surprise package last term, but they’re enduring a tricky second season in Germany’s top-flight. They’ve taken a single point from their last three league games, including a home defeat to bottom club FC Cologne.

Visitors Zenit beat Celtic 3-1 on aggregate in the last round, and have taken eight points from their last five league games. It’s 10/11 for Zenit to Win or Draw in Germany.

Roberto Mancini’s men have striker Aleksandr Kokorin in fine form. He’s scored nine times in 11 UEL games – including qualifying – this term. It’s 23/10 for Kokorin to Score Anytime, while it’s 3/1 for Zenit to score 2+ Goals in the game.

Borussia Dortmund v Red Bull Salzburg

You’re almost guaranteed goals when Dortmund are in action. They edged Atalanta 4-3 on aggregate in the round of 32. As for the visitors, they’ve scored in eight matches on the trot. Both Teams to Score in this clash is an 8/11 shot.

Marco Reus has netted in his last two outings. Three could be the magic number for him, with 13/8 for Reus to Score and Dortmund to Win. Meanwhile, Munas Dabbur could add to his run of five strikes in eight, and is 21/10 to Score Anytime.

Marseille v Athletic Bilbao

It’s been a season of peaks and troughs for L’OM, and right now they’re in the latter. Winless in four, they’ve managed a single goal in the process.

Visitors Bilbao are strong on their travels in this competition, with three wins and two draws in their last five UEL away games. A Bilbao victory is 7/2, and if they are to do that, Aritz Aduriz could play a big part.

The veteran has scored seven in his last six European games, breaking the deadlock in four of them. He’s 21/10 to Net Anytime, and there’s 6/1 about Aduriz as First Goalscorer.

And the rest…

Sporting Lisbon host Viktoria Plzen. Four of the Portuguese side’s last five games have seen the net bulge at least three times. Over 2.5 Goals is available at Evens.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid are excellent at home, but their success is based on an extremely stingy defence. Atleti to Win and Under 2.5 Goals is 17/10, as they face Lokomotiv Moscow.

Last but not least, it’s CSKA Moscow v Lyon. Only one of the hosts’ last eight games have seen both sides on the scoresheet. BTTS – No is priced up at 19/20.

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Dave graduated with an MA in English Literature at Durham University, and worked in marketing before joining the Ladbrokes News team. A Man United fan and avid groundhopper, he’s also an ardent follower of Rugby League. You can usually find him at a ground near you, clutching a big cup of tea.

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